"I've come to renounce my quest against her," he said, the words as much of a surprise to him as if he hadn't spoken them.
The idea felt unfamiliar yet as solid as the ground he was walking on. He had to protect his family. He couldn't put them at risk, no matter how terrible he thought the Lady was. Right? That was the deal, as far as he could remember.
But as he placed his boots on the first steps leading to the white columns, a frisson of worry spiked through him. What if I still want to go after her? Just a little bit? Would she hold that against him?
But he searched his thoughts. The desire to end the Lady of Varna and save his family had been scorched from his mind. The hand he'd been dealt was the one he'd play, even if it just continued the game.
The door opened without him knocking. A Watcher—dark glasses, dark suit—looking more like a secret service agent than an alumni of the Academy. It was the woman from the night of the Ceremony.
He followed her through the atrium and down a long hallway, past the Grand Ballroom, past rooms he'd never entered. When she walked through the wall at the end of the hall, he went through the illusion without question, and though he wasn't going to turn around and test it, he figured that if he tried to go back, it would feel as solid as a block of granite.
Stairs curled into the darkness. He used his imbuement to see by what little light remained.
He'd always guessed that her true abode lay beneath the plantation, but had never really wanted to think about it.
The rooms he passed through felt snug and warm with thick, cushy rugs and rich wood-paneled shelves stuffed with books. He sensed her love of the written word by the display, which made sense given her longevity. How could someone care to live that long without finding a way to pass the time? He also realized he could be projecting his thoughts onto her, that her mind might be so alien that he was misrepresenting what the books meant.
Lady Arcadia stood with her back to him, examining something in her hand. She had a singular presence, like a blazing fire that burned if one got too close. He waited near a leather-backed chair and end table upon which sat The Nine Major Techniques of Obfusium Magic by Matt Konig.
Seeing his former instructor's book sent a sharp stab of concern through him. It was a warning, a message. She knew what he might attempt, if he were foolish enough. But if he had attempted to obfuscate his intentions, it was too late—either he'd done it or he hadn't. Of course, she knew this as well, which meant it was a way to make him nervous, suss out his secrets, which seemed to be working because he wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and examined it as if it were a Rosetta stone.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in," said Lady Arcadia when she turned, slipping a pair of reading glasses from the bridge of her nose. Her purple eyes regarded him keenly and her lips parted in what was meant to masquerade as a smile. He felt like Beowulf in the dragon's lair. If that was the way she wanted to play it, he was happy to oblige.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" asked Zayn.
"Why yes, I am."
He gestured towards the book on the end table. "A little overdramatic, don't you think? You either know or you don't know, and since I know my own mind, I already know the answer. You've asked me here to play with me like a cat does a mouse after its broken its legs."
The faux smile left her lips so quickly he knew he'd erred.
"You're an arrogant little shit," said Lady Arcadia, stepping forward.
"My apologies," he said, holding his hands up. "I really liked Instructor Konig, and shoving his book in my face hurt. I know that wasn't your intention, but that's the way it felt when I first walked in."
The barely disguised anger faded to a smoldering remorse.
"No, it is I who should apologize," she said. "That was insensitive of me. But you can understand my reasons; after all, you once vowed to kill me."
For reasons he couldn’t, or wouldn't, articulate to himself, the word once brought a gust of relief. It was as if a knot had been unraveled in his chest.
"I meant it when I said that I did not wish to cause unnecessary disturbances in Varna." Her lips squeezed tight. "But I also meant it when I said I want to continue living a long time. So I must ask, and I'm sure you'll understand, why did you change your mind?"
Zayn felt the whole world dial down to a pinhead. His skin tingled as if a wave of electricity had passed through him. He held his breath and searched his mind for the answer, but found it empty. His silence continued for an unnatural amount of time and the longer it lasted, the more his blood pounded in his ears until he could hear nothing but its constant drumming.
"I...I learned from what happened with Prince Aethalstar that no matter how hard we try to hide our intentions, the truth always comes out," said Zayn.
The corners of her eyes creased. "A worthy, but rehearsed answer."
"It's the truth. He made every precaution, mitigated every risk. Everything he could do to hide his intentions, he did. But it didn't matter. I gave up when I realized I couldn't win. And since you offered a palatable alternative, to work for Priyanka Sai, I thought it was better to do some good than none at all."
Her gaze narrowed at the implication. "I'm not as bad as you make me out to be."
Zayn was surprised by the hurt in her voice. She seemed truly bothered by what he thought. Or she was laying a trap for him. She'd invited him here, in her lair, to decide once and for all if he should live. He knew he had to tread carefully.
"You're right, I don't know," said Zayn.
As he turned to examine a bookshelf, he caught a twitch of her lip. An errant curl suggesting she still hadn't decided. Even though he knew his own mind, it was possible that the seers hadn't been able to convince her that he'd given up his quest. Which meant he was in a terrible situation. His breath caught in his throat. He had to convince her that he wasn't going to do her harm, and do it fast, or he wasn't going to walk out of the plantation.
He feigned examining a book to buy time. What angle did he need to take? What strategy would convince her? And then he realized he hadn't given her a why.
Zayn set the book down and looked her in the eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm not being completely honest."
"Oh?"
"About why I changed my mind. Not that Prince Aethalstar's failed attempt on the city didn't instruct me. But it wasn't really that. And I hesitated to say anything because Priyanka tells us not to reveal our deepest drives, because then they're leverage to be used against us."
He paused, checking her level of interest in what he had to say. She leaned forward, eyes wide with a calm focus. He'd hooked her, now he needed to set it for good.
"Honestly, I don't know why I fear to say it, because you already know the truth. You know how much my family means to me. You know my love for my cousin Keelan, my mother and father, brother and sisters, even Aunt Lydia.
"I'm not sure if you've seen it, but my sister Neveah has a food truck that she's been driving around town. She loves to cook and she's really amazing. I think she could be a world-class chef. But she can never be that in Varna. I mean, she'll make people happy with her food, but she'd never get the recognition she desires."
"You want more freedom for your family," said Lady Arcadia point-blank.
"Yes, the freedom to travel to other cities, take a job as a chef, and all that," said Zayn. "And not just for her, but for the rest of my family. I don't know what Izzy and Max or Imani want, but they should get the opportunity to find out. And my parents too. I want them to get the same deal with the poison, regular shipments so they can travel, live their lives with some freedoms."
A sharp cackle exited from her lips, freezing him in place. "Oh, this is rich. You are Priyanka's protégé. You play a dangerous game, but I see this for what it is now. If I hadn't heard the stories about your penchant for risk, I might not have believed it, that you would try this, this negotiation tactic."
"It's not much of a negotiation, you hold all the cards," said Zayn.
/> "True," said Lady Arcadia, "but you know that I do not like to upset Varna unnecessarily."
She shook her head with disbelief. He carefully let out his breath.
"Well then," she said. "Now that we understand each other, I think we can proceed."
"You accept my deal?"
"I will." She let a grin color her lips. "But I want additional work from you in return. More than Priyanka's protégé, I want you to work for me, too."
"You want me to spy on her," said Zayn, finally understanding.
"Yes."
"You question her loyalties."
Lady Arcadia made a gesture with her hand. "I question everyone's loyalties."
"So in return for information about Priyanka, you'll let my family have more out-of-Varna privileges," said Zayn.
"Let's start with the first part about Priyanka, and if you can bring me good information next year when you return to the Academy, I'll loosen the reins," said Lady Arcadia.
Zayn opened his mouth to argue further but realized he'd gotten more than he expected and decided to get out while he still could. When he closed his mouth, he sensed she approved by the way she regarded him.
"I will take my leave then," said Zayn, giving a short bow.
"Remember our deal, Zayn Carter," she said, "and do not disappoint me."
"Never."
The Watcher from before retrieved him from the Lady's room. He couldn’t remember walking out of the plantation, but when he finally left the building and made it to the end of the towering oaks where the sunshine finally dared to tread, he found himself shaking uncontrollably.
"Deeper and deeper. What have you gotten yourself into, Zayn?"
The Stacks was only a few miles away, so Zayn broke into a jog. He missed his family. He couldn't wait to see their smiling faces.
But as he ran, he thought about how complicated next year was going to be. What a tangled web, eh? He'd given up his quest against the Lady, but now he had to spy on his own patron. And whatever he did, he didn't feel like he'd resolved the Lady situation. She still didn't trust him, even if her seers had told her nothing concrete. And there was a third person he couldn't trust. He didn't know quite how to articulate it, nor could he even understand why, but he felt it to be true no matter what.
He worried he couldn't trust himself.
###
Purchase the next book in The Reluctant Assassin Series, Agent Unraveled, on Amazon.
If you can't wait for the next book, try the first book in the completed Hundred Hall series, Trials of Magic.
Sign up for a newsletter now to receive exclusive content, great deals on early book releases, behind the scenes information, AND my complete starter library including three FREE books.
Special Thanks
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to publish a book, especially if you're trying to make it a good one.
I've been lucky enough to find a fantastic team to help me with all facets of the publishing process from idea to edits to publishing to promotion. When you see a finished book, it's hard to know the hundreds of hours that went into making it great. My back-of-the-napkin calculation is that it takes almost 500 hours to conceive, write, and produce the book with only half of that time coming from me. The rest comes from the cover designers, or the many editors and beta readers, both paid and volunteer.
It seems like a lot until you consider the tens of thousands of hours of enjoyment each book generates for readers, or how reading opens our minds to new experiences, makes us better people through these secondary lives we live while we read.
So to all those people that helped make this possible: thank you! People like my wife Rachel who helps me craft the stories that you love, Ravven who conjures the covers from her imagination and skillful craft, my editor Tamara Blaine who fixes my absurd word choices and makes the reading experience more pleasant, the beta readers (Tina Rak, Carole Carpenter, and Patty Eversole) who give me great feedback while dealing with an error filled manuscript, to the Vanguard (Lana Turner, Elaine Stoker, Laura Coffing, Jess Churchill, Alyssa Washburn, and Paula J. Fletcher) who catch those final gremlins that plague every book.
Your time and effort have helped bring to life this moment of joy in readers' lives. Thank you!
The Hundred Halls Appendix
Glossary Terms
Merlin Trials - The entrance exams to the Hundred Halls that can only be taken during the ages seventeen through nineteen. There are three stages to the trials.
Faez - The raw stuff of magic. Faez is the energy that when shaped by spell or other means creates magical effects. Faez is dangerous to humans, but a tolerance can be built up over time if somehow protected. The patronage system of the Hundred Halls is the most common method.
Patron - The founder of a hall within the Hundred Halls. The patron extends their magical protection to students, keeping them safe from faez madness, and teaching them a specific skill set within the magical world.
Faez Madness - Prolonged use of faez without protection results in irreversible damage to the user's ability to understand and interact with reality.
Invictus (person) - The Head Patron and founder of the Hundred Halls. Presumed dead around 2003. Known to have lived a very long life.
Invictus (city) - The city of Invictus was founded by its namesake in 1836. The school that would later become the Hundred Halls was founded officially in 1867.
Spire - The administrative center of the city of Invictus. The Merlin Trials are performed here.
Second Year Contest - These games require cross-Hall teams to compete against each other for a grand prize.
Maetrie – Commonly called City Elves, though they have no relation to the Fae. Their home is the Eternal City, a realm closer to Invictus than any other.
Diamond Court – The court of maetrie ruled by Lady Zaire.
Ruby Court – The court of maetrie ruled by Lady Amethyte.
Jade Court – The court of maetrie ruled by Lady Kikala.
Liebereisen – The Journey of Discovery that young maetrie experience during their coming-of-age trip
Eternal City – The endless city that is home to the maetrie
Major Halls
Arcanium
Nickname: Arcanium
Patron: Semyon Gray
Est: 1867
Motto: Knowledge is Power
Description: Arcanium believes in the value of gaining knowledge, not only about the world around us, but of ourselves. Before we can master magic, we must hone the tool the magic originates from, because a poorly trained mage will not only be a danger to themselves, but society at large. Once a student is capable, they may learn the art of changing spells on the fly using lexology, or how ancient runic languages are the key to solving the world’s most difficult problems. Join Arcanium and be a part of the solution.
Coterie of Mages
Nickname: Coterie
Patron: Malden Anterist
Est: 1867
Motto: Limitless
Description: Anything is possible. Here in the Coterie of Mages, we don't believe in limits. If you can imagine it, you can do it. We push the boundaries of what magic is capable of. If this frightens you, then Coterie is not the Hall for you, but if this elicits a sense of excitement and wonder, then apply to the Coterie of Mages. We are the elite.
Academy of the Subtle Arts
Nickname: Assassins
Patron: Priyanka Sai
Est: 1867
Motto: Anyone can be persuaded
Description: Human connections make the world go round. We at the Academy of the Subtle Arts strive to bring people, companies, and countries together. Our mages are the world's most effective diplomats and heads of state. If you seek to join the interconnected world of politics, then the Academy is the right Hall for you.
The Order of Honorable Alchemists
Nickname: Alchemists
Patron: Celesse D'Agastine
Est
: 1867
Motto: Perfection is Achievable
Description: The human vessel is a sacred thing. We believe in maximizing our potential through better alchemy. Our potentials cannot be met if we rely on the ordinariness of humanity.
Protectors
Nickname: Protectors
Patron: Bannon Creed
Est: 1867
Motto: To Protect and Control
Description: Order requires commitment. Protectors are committed to the value of human life. To being the shield against those that would tear down society, and create chaos. The Protector Hall teaches the ultimate defense, not only for yourself, but for the world at large. If being on the front lines of the world's conflicts appeals to you, then Protectors is your Hall
Acoustic Architectural Institute of Design
Nickname: Stone Singers
Patron: Ester Starwood
Est: 1891
Motto: Building through song
Description: A song is made up of many notes, just like a bridge is made of many stones. Society cannot function without the infrastructure to hold it together. The Acoustic Architectural institute of Design teaches how to shape the world with only a song.
Society for the Understanding of Animals
Nickname: Animalians
Patron: Adele Montgomery
Est: 1945
Motto: We Are Not Alone
Description: All life is sacred. From the industrious dung beetle to the majestic horned dragon. We at the Society believe that Earth must be shared with all her children and when we do we will truly unlock her endless possibilities.
Holistic Institute
Nickname: Aura Healers
Patron: Sir William Jenner III
Est: 1875
Motto: Health Starts in the Soul
Description: When someone gets hurt, are you the first to run to their side to tend their wounds? If so, then the Holistic Institute is for you. We'll teach you how to mend even the most grievous wounds.
The Veiled Diplomat Page 25